Sediment Fence with Skirt

ABSTRACT

Sediment Fence with Skirt is designed to help meet the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System for sediment control as well as provide a physical base for site and soil remediation. The primary function of the Sediment Fence with Skirt is sediment control and it can be installed on project boundaries as well as across drainage flow lines. Surface water and drainage water flows through the sediment fence tube and sediment is removed from suspension by filter material in the sediment fence tube, and by the interruption of flow velocity, which will cause sediment to drop out of suspension. Erosion control is enhanced by the use of the attached Sediment Fence skirt, which is plowed into the ground or affixed to the surface at the time of Sediment Fence installation, and which provides a barrier to reduce leakage of surface and drainage water underneath the Sediment Fence.

Sediment Fence with Skirt is designed to help meet the requirements ofthe National Pollution Discharge Elimination System for sediment controlas well as provide a physical base for site and soil remediation. Theprimary function of the Sediment Fence with Skirt is sediment controland it can be installed on project boundaries as well as across drainageflow lines. Surface water and drainage water flows through the sedimentfence tube and sediment is removed from suspension by filter material inthe sediment fence tube, and by the interruption of flow velocity, whichwill cause sediment to drop out of suspension. Erosion control isenhanced by the use of the attached Sediment Fence skirt, which isplowed into the ground or affixed to the surface at the time of SedimentFence installation, and which provides a barrier to reduce leakage ofsurface and drainage water underneath the Sediment Fence.

INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS

Sediment Fence with Skirt is fabricated as a one piece cylindrical tubewith an integral skirt (see FIG. 1). The skirt can be installedcompletely into the ground, leaving the empty tube lying on the ground.Filter material is then installed in the Sediment Fence tube through useof a shredder and/or forced air blower. An optional draw string can beinstalled during filter material placement to allow the Sediment Fenceto be secured to stakes driven into the ground on the downstream side ofthe runoff flow (see FIG. 2). The draw string attached to the buriedstakes provides additional support for the Sediment Fence if flowvelocity and or water volume require this approach. Sediment Fence withSkirt can also be installed by laying the skirt flat on the ground andsecured with biodegradable or non-degradable staples. The tube is thenfilled as described above.

Sediment Fence with Skirt can be deployed in any length required.However, testing shows that installations of up to one hundred linearyards can be managed easily by a single individual. The ends of theSediment Fence with Skirt are then secured by weaving ties through thematerial and drawn tight (see FIG. 4).

Using an optional plow attachment devised for the specific purpose ofinstalling the Sediment Fence with Skirt and a mechanicalchipper/shredder with blower, much of the intensive labor associatedwith sediment and erosion control fence construction is reduced.Further, if the installer uses biodegradable materials, removal of thefence is not required. If the installer uses biodegradable materials,all components can be disked into the area or left to provide a matrixfor growing a ground cover crop for site remediation purposes (see FIG.1—Optional Seeding Skirt). Seed can be installed with the filtermaterial, converting the Sediment Fence with Skirt into a plantingmatrix for cover crops that grow out of the filled Sediment Fence. Covercrops such as alfalfa, oats, grass or other soil-stabilizing plants thatare planted in the fence can be easily harvested if needed, or theentire fence and cover crop can be disked into the ground.

Material Specification

The filtering capabilities of the Sediment Fence with Skirt require thatthe material used for the sediment fence tube be of a porous orsemi-porous nature. Burlap is typically used as the material for thetube and skirt itself, though any porous fabric sewn into a tube withskirt may be used. Bio-photo degradable timeframe and long-term userequirements will dictate the material used for the Sediment Fence tubeand skirt, as well as the weight of the material and whether thematerial is chemically treated for additional longevity or not. If apermanent installation is desired, construction and installation of theSediment Fence with Skirt remains as described above, with only a changein the type of material used for the Sediment Fence tube and skirt froma degradable material to a non-degradable material. Examples of uses ofthe permanent installation option would be for a ditch check, flowinterrupter, field terrace or similar sediment control device that isrequired to remain in place for any length of time.

Filter Material

Any free-flowing, well-graded material may be used for filter material.Filter material can even be created on site by mowing and shreddinggrass hay, straw hay, wood chips, nut shells, composts, etc. Seed canalso be injected into the Sediment Fence with Skirt, which will thengrow into a ground cover crop and increase the filtering and soilretention capabilities of the Sediment Fence with Skirt over time.

1. A sediment control system that reduces or eliminates leakage ofrunoff or other discharge flow underneath the bottom edge of thesediment fence (see FIG. 1).
 2. A sediment control system that can beleft in place to provide long-term sediment control and a plantingmatrix for groundcover crops (see FIG. 1—Optional Seeding Skirt).
 3. Asediment control system that allows flexibility in choice of filtermaterial depending on the needs of the project and the requirements ofthe site (FIG. 1—General Notes).
 4. A sediment control system thatallows materials harvested on a project site to be used for sedimentcontrol filter material (also see General Notes and FIG. 1).
 5. Asediment control system that is installed into the ground mechanicallyand that does not require staking to the ground, but offers a means tooptionally stake the fence into the ground for situations that requireadditional support (see FIG. 2).